MTA recommends Jay Gonzalez for Governor

The Board of Directors of the Massachusetts Teachers Association has voted overwhelmingly to recommend Jay Gonzalez, the Democratic candidate running against incumbent Republican Governor Charlie Baker.

MTA-recommended candidate Jay Gonzalez

“Jay is a strong supporter of public schools and public higher education,” said MTA President Merrie Najimy. “Unlike Baker, Gonzalez has taken a bold position in favor of raising new revenues through progressive taxes that ask more of our wealthy residents in order to fund the common good, at the core of which are our public schools and colleges.”

Gonzalez wants to raise $1 billion in the short term in order to begin investing in public schools, colleges and public transportation. Over the longer run, he wants to raise another $2 billion from the wealthiest residents in the Commonwealth. Gonzalez was a strong supporter of the Fair Share Amendment, also referred to as the millionaires’ tax, which would have raised a projected $2 billion a year for public education and transportation by increasing taxes on annual income over $1 million. The MTA was a strong proponent of that amendment as part of the Raise Up Massachusetts coalition.

Baker declined to commit himself one way or the other on the Fair Share Amendment; James Peyser, his secretary of education, actively opposed it. In June, the state Supreme Judicial Court, the majority of whose members were appointed by Baker, ruled against allowing the question to appear on the November ballot.

Gonzalez said that if he is elected he will advocate to have a revised version of that proposal placed on the ballot and will actively support it.

He also pledged to support public schools over privatized charter schools. In 2016, Gonzalez opposed Question 2, the ballot question to lift the cap on charter schools, and he continues to be against charter school expansions and in favor of keeping the cap and fully funding the charter school reimbursement account. Baker was a leading supporter of Question 2 and continues to strongly support charter schools. In addition, Baker appointee Paul Sagan, chair of the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education, donated $496,000 to the main pro-charter campaign organization, which subsequently was fined for hiding the source of this contribution and others.

“Jay Gonzalez is the pro-public-education candidate in this race.”

MTA President Merrie Najimy

Gonzalez also expressed concerns about skyrocketing debt among students who attend public colleges and universities in Massachusetts. He pledged to support initiatives that would guarantee students a debt-free college education. Baker has made no such commitment.

Gonzalez’ platform includes support for numerous progressive causes, including criminal justice reform, stronger gun safety laws and addressing climate change. He is a strong opponent of President Donald Trump’s anti-immigrant platform.

“Jay Gonzalez is the pro-public-education candidate in this race,” said Najimy. “We are urging our members to look at the policy positions and records of both candidates and to support the candidate who will do the most to create the public schools and colleges students, educators and communities deserve.”